US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken on Wednesday announced a new visa policy for Bangladeshi individuals believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining the democratic election process.
The individuals who fall under this policy include current and former Bangladeshi officials, members of pro-government and opposition political parties, and members of law enforcement, the judiciary, and security services, Blinken said in a statement.
In a Tweet, he added that the visa restrictions would apply to the immediate family members of such persons.
The policy was declared under Section 212(a)(3)(C) (“3C”) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to support Bangladesh's goal of holding free, fair, and peaceful national elections, he said.
The actions to be treated as disqualification for a US visa include vote rigging, voter intimidation, the use of violence to prevent people from exercising their right to freedoms of association and peaceful assembly, and the use of measures designed to prevent political parties, voters, civil society, or the media from disseminating their views.
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The US Embassy in Dhaka also gave clarification on the issues related to the new announcement. The embassy says it is a general practice to notify individuals whose visas are revoked or cancelled.
It states that the US does not support any particular political party. Restrictions under this new policy target individuals engaging in behaviour that undermines the democratic election process, regardless of affiliation.
“The United States supports free and fair elections everywhere. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government have committed to supporting free and fair elections in Bangladesh. This policy is designed to support these efforts and the Bangladeshi people, so they may hold elections to choose their leaders.”
The embassy has clarified that no visa restrictions have occurred under this policy at this time. “As the Secretary stated, the United States is committed to building a strong partnership with the Government of Bangladesh grounded in democracy and human rights. We welcome the Prime Minister's expressed commitment to holding free and fair elections.”
Even if individuals commit offences after following orders from higher levels and it is difficult to link higher-level decision-makers to those carrying out orders, the policy will apply to anyone undermining the democratic election process.
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The embassy also says the policy decision is not in retaliation for Bangladesh's May 14 decision to curtail Ambassador Peter Haas's security detail. “Given our close cooperation with the Government of Bangladesh, we informed it of this policy decision on May 3,” it said.
On Sunday, the embassy advised US citizens in Bangladesh to move with caution. They have been advised to avoid protests at this time.
The warning given on the website of the US Embassy as “Demonstration Alert” informed that national elections will be held in Bangladesh on or before January 2024. Due to this, political programs and protests can now be seen more often.
The embassy said that all US citizens in Bangladesh should follow the advance warning in view of the possible situation.
The embassy warning included avoiding public gatherings and protests, being aware of surroundings, watching local media regularly, and keeping a charged mobile phone in hand at all times for emergency communication.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam said on Wednesday that the new visa policy announced does not bother the Bangladesh government as authorities are committed to holding a free and fair election.
"It's not a sanction. The BNP should be worried as violence before or during the election is another criterion that will trigger visa restriction," he told UNB.